Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her biological father served of the American military, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," states Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many American youths.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for many years with little cause to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
But when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I had a little mental breakdown after finding out I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many American adoptees are without citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, according to advocacy groups.
Another Story
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an American couple from the Middle East in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I settled into my existence, consistently believing that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Historical Context
Over many years, international adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their families have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes were announced, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," said an attorney specializing in adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your personal history. They don't care that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for many years, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our accounts and please follow through with the promise that America gave each one of the babies that were brought here: US nationality."
